very worried about mini Shetland

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sherbetdip

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Two weeks ago one of my mini Shetlands (a 3 year old) died very suddenly. The night before I noticed she had suddenly lost a lot of weight. I know it sounds strange but I spend a lot of time with my horses and she had looked fine and healthy the day before and then all of a sudden gaunt and listless the next day. She ate her feed but was chewing it distractedly - I tried to tempt her with a carrot but she didn't seem to be able to see it or was interested in it.

The next morning i found her on the floor curled up barely alive. The vet came and said it would be best to put her down she was in such a bad state. We had a post mortem done on her and the vet said she had a very undeveloped heart and heart disease - so it was probably congenital. I was relieved in a way because I was so worried about potential poisoning or a contagious disease that could have taken my 4 year old mini (mare).

For the past two weeks my 4 year old has seemed healthy - she became a little bad tempered with me (I think because she missed having her companion to boss around) but hasn't seemed to be grieving excessively. We bought a new little companion for her on Monday.

Then two things happened.
The night before we got her companion I noticed she looked a little underweight. I thought perhaps she is grieving but she hasn't been off her food.
I have tried to up her feed a bit - and give her more soaked hay and hard feed - but the weight loss has continued. Her rump has looked thinner for the past few days but today her withers also looked bony with no fat. She is still eating and until this morning she seemed energetic enough. But today she is listless - so weight loss and listlessness - just like her companion who died.

The second thing that happened was that when we introduced the new companion, it triggered my mare going into season - so, all in all it's been a bit of a confusing time for her.

However i am now really worried. My vet is coming this afternoon - all I have read about my previous horse's symptoms would point to liver damage and if my current mare is showing similar symptoms then what is going on?

I have checked the paddocks and there is no ragwort - none that I can see - is it possible they have chewed it down to the ground and keep eating the regrowth?

She was wormed in March and I am about to give her the next worming paste - but don't want to overload her system if she's unwell - will wait and see what the vet says.

I am so worried as she is clearly not well. Any thoughts?
 
Could it be grass sickness? That is the only thing I can think of that would cause such rapid weight loss and deterioration.
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your other pony and now this one.

I'd be worried about something toxic or some sort of infectious condition. Did the vet do blood screens in the PM of your other pony? Atypical myopathy is taking its toll this year and some research shows it may well be due to Sycamore seeds or seedlings in some cases. Do a search on here and here's one link. http://liphookequinehospital.co.uk/news/2013/06/atypical-myopathy-client-update/

Sending lots of healing vibes.
 
How worrying for you, I can't offer any advice I'm afraid, but you have done the right thing to call out your Vet, if only to put your mind at rest.

I really hope she is just missing her friend and picks up soon.
 
Thanks for all the help. Vet came and found lice! I felt relieved and embarrassed not to have noticed. Because she has been in season and with the new little Shetland I've left her alone for the past couple of days and not tried to groom her or pick her feet out. I know the lice weren't there last week when I groomed her and now she is covered. The vet thinks the newbie brought them in but I am 1) shocked she could have gotten so heavily infested so quickly and 2) have lost weight so quickly. The vet thinks the weight loss is definitely because of the lice - he checked her heart and vital signs and says she is otherwise fine. He gave me some Deosect which I have just applied to them - ( a great introduction for a new and shy little one - I'm sure she's going to hate me from this point on) - so we shall see. My 4 year old seemed a bit perkier this evening, not so lethargic. But I have heard that lice only go for older horses or those with lowered immune systems... so part of me is still slightly worried there's an underlying condition?
 
You have to treat both, you can also spray manes and fetlocks with staykill. Feed immunoplus from global herds or feedmark
 
STRIKER said:
You have to treat both, you can also spray manes and fetlocks with staykill. Feed immunoplus from global herds or feedmark
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Thanks. I sprayed/washed both with Deosect somewhat successfully on Weds pm and have to treat again in about a week. The vet came out today to do an initial health check for my new little one and had a look at the 4 year old as well and is happy that the critters have been zapped.
My 4 yr old is much more lively - she must have been so miserable and I feel awful that I missed the lice. Anyway - have upped her feed, added a supplement and someone suggested Restore which I am trying. I will feel much happier when she puts the weight back on.
Thanks for the Staykill tip - I will look for that as I'm not sure how much of the mane and fetlocks I got.
 
I'd be tempted to feed a good quality balancer at recomended levels (if you don't already) as the infestation was severe there may be some anaemia and minerals, especially copper, will help with recovery.
 
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